Cigarette-feeding mechanism.



R. V. CRAGGS. CIGARETTE PBEDING MECBANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.4. 1913.

Eatenled Dec. 29,

R. V. CRAGGS.

CIGARETTE FEEDING MECHANISM.

` APPLICATION FILED 0GT.4. 1913. y l l 23, l O4. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. V. CRAGGS. CIGARETTE FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. 1913. 9 239 il @4L Patented Deo. 29, 1914,

feeding cigarettes, cigars,

Ross v. emacs; or BALTINQBE,

MARYLAND, AssIcNoitTo RICHARD n. WRIGHT, oF

.. NORTH CAROLINA.

elementi-renews meenemen.'

Specification of :Letters Itent.

originar ia'inf'tiq tied :une 3, isis', serial No. 771,555. yIniziata .ana this appiiation med octoter 4,

1 191s. seria1N0.79a',4 51.

To' all 'whm it ma concern ABe it known t at I, Ross V. Games, a citizen of the-'United States, residing at Baltimore, inthe State of Maryland, have invented newand useful Improvements in Cigarette-Feeding'Mechanism, of which the following is ai specification.

lhis invention relates to mecnamsm for i and other articles to -incl'osures of any suitable type, and the primary`V object of the invention is to regularly assemble and discharge a predetermined' number of cigarettes or other articles from a hopper or other supply means carrying cigarettes or-other articles in bulk to infclosures positively moved inseq'uencel into recept-ive positionjrelatively to the feeding mec anism, and to avoid choking of the cigarettes during feeding thereof from the hopper. to theassemblingymeans and insure charging' the 4inclosuresf with the same number of cigarettes in goed condition.

The application embodies subject matter divided out vof my vapplication `Serial No. 771,555, filed Juneje, `191.3. I

yThe invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts more lfully `herej inafter described and claimed..l

`ln the drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a cigarette-.packaging machine showing the improved ceding 'or charging mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 2'

is'y a. front side elevation of the improved machine;` Fig. 3-is an end elevationfshowing the ci arette 4feeding or changing mechanism and operatingV mechanism therefor; 4 is a transverse vertical section'taken in the plane of the line 4--4 "of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale,- ofthe means for assembling the cigarettes, a

portion of thev ejector therefor,'the compression chamber, and a part ofthe mold Wheel or disk; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the compression chamber and compressor, and a portion of the coperating means for controlling the bunch-ing and bdily expulsion of the bunches of cigarettes and showing a.

slight modification; Fig'. 7 is an elevation of a portion of the hopper and the slightly modified mechanism' particularly shown by Figg; Fig. l8 is an elevation of the assembling chamber for the cigarettes, particularly illustrating the partitions and the operating means therefor; Fig. '9 is a top plan View, partially in horizontal section, `of the assembling chamber as illustrated by Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical s ection taken in the plane of the line 1 0-10 of Fig. v9; Fig. 11 is a transverse verticalA section taken in the plane of the line 11-11 of Fig. 9; Figs. 12 and 13 are detail pers ective views respectively of 'one of the sli e bars and one of the partitions'associated with said bar and constituting part of the group of barsand partitions f the assembling chamber.

The numeral 5 designates a table or support for all of the mechanisms and devices, and said table may be of any contour or dimensionsk and varied as hereinafter eX- plained. The table is held at a suitable elevation above a floor or base by means of legs 6. Over the rear portion of the table 5` and held by uprights 7, 8, having hearings 10 at their upper extremities is a drive shaft 11 provided at one end with a loose pulley 12 adapted to be driven from a suitable power source, and having clutch members 13 and 14 coperating therewith, the ,memberk 13 being associated with the pulley and the member 14 splined` or otherwise shiftably mounted on the shaft vllto rotatewith the latter. The clutch member 14: will be controlled as to its movement by the operator and hasa groove 15 at its inner extremity engaged by a yoke 16 carried at the upper, y nd of a bellcrank lever 17 fulcrumed as at 18 on the outer side of the upright 7 and provided with a depending arm 19. In a bearing boss or lug' 20 projecting from the feed end ofthe table just .below the clutch member 14, a crank' shaft'21 is mounted yand has on its rear yend va crank '22 carrying a roller 23 at its free extremity which is in continual engagement with the inner side of the depending arm 19 of thebell-'crank lever 17. The bell-crank lever 17 is held in the normal position shown by Fig. 2, or `so that the arm 19 will bein engagement with the roller 23 by aspring24 seated in a portion of the upright 7 above the fulcrum of the said lever." 0n the forward end of the crank wardly extending catch finger 27 adapted to engage under an upstanding hook 28 at the inner end of an arm 29 intermediately fulcrumed as at 30 to the table 5 and pro vided with a trip or pressure table 31 .at its forward extremity engaged on its under side by a spring 32 which normally h 'olds- I the said trip or pressure table 31 elevated from the member' 13of the band wheel or.

pulley 12 in the event that an improper feed of the cigarettes or disposition of the closures ensues.v When the operator depresses the table 31 and releases the hook 28 from the inger 27, the hand lever 25 may be swung outwardly, ,thereby releasing pressure of the roller 23 from the lower extremity of the depending arm 19 of thev bell crank lever 17 and permitting the spring 24 to come into play and forcethe clutch member 14 into engagement with the clutch member 13 of the band wheel or pulley 12 throwin the hand lever 25 inwardly, the finger 2 is caught under the hook 28 and the lower end of the arm 19 is pressed outwardly and consequently the upper arm of the bell crank lever is simultaneously` forced inwardly against the resistance of the spring 24 to release the clutch member 14 and throw the machine out of operation, the hook 28 at the rear end of thearm 29 and the trip or pressure table 31 sustaining the clutch member 14 in the position shown b Fig. 2. It will be understood that the shaft 11 will also be provided withy a suitable Hy wheel adjacent tothe band wheel or pulley 12, and the mounting of this shaft will be carried outto the best advantage relatively to the devices coperating therewith and from which power is taken to drive the several parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter explained. 1 Y The blank inclosures are regularly fed to and shaped in pockets 36 of a mold wheel or disk 35 and regularly positioned in successlon by a step by step movement of the saidwheel or disk to the improved cigarette feeding or charging mechanism 37. Any suitable mechanism may be used to impart te the mold wheel or disk a stepped rotation, and this wheel or disk is shown disposed horizontally, but it will be understood that a vertically arranged 'mold wheel or disk might be equally well employed..

vAfter the blank ofthe inclosure or package is shaped and pressed intothe pocket Aor seat 36, it is conveyed bythe mold wheel or disk`35 -to the cigarette feeding mecha-A nlsm 37. The example illustrated shows the said mechanism as operating with a double row of five cigarettes in each row, which constitutes the ordinary package of ten.

y said pins This feeding mechanism embodies a hopper 92having a bottom wall shaped as shown particularly these bottom curvatures merging into slight v,overhanging or inwardly projecting ribs or shoulders 95 and 96 continuing into under curved surfaces 97 and This hopper may be. equipped with any suitable means for gaining access thereto and remains in fixed position on the table 5 to'which. it is suitably secured. The shape ofthe bottom of the hopper and the outlet wallsas just explained prevents crowding and missha ing ,the cigarettes by pressure of the bulk a ove those adjacent to the outlet and insures a more perfect retention of the shape of the clgarettes or their preservation in approxi.

mately circular lcontour in cross-section. Beneath the discharge opening 99 at the ocated oi a portion of the table 5. The box or casing 100 may beheld fixed on the table 5 by any suitable means, and is open at its epposite ends and top portion, and therein by Fig. 7 and comprising a long' gradual curve 93 at one side and a short curve 94 at the opposite side, both of then-` merging1 into. 1 downwardly inclined converging wa s 98 to an outlet opening 99.

base of the hopper 92 a box or casing 100 is and thus set .the machine in motion. By` l 1s a plurality of sixshding bars 101, 102,-A

103, 104, 105 and 106 which .are of such width as to snugly take up the space between the sides of the box or casing but are free to shift or movebetween the said sides. These bars are mounted insuch man-V ner that a differential parallel sliding mo-ftion is imparted thereto, and this motlon isefl'ected through the `medium of a motion transmitting lever 107, the bars at one end of each being formed with a horizontal slot 108, and when the bars are assembled all of the slots 108 coincide, thus forming an elongated seat for the reception of the lever 107. v

The lever 107 is intermediately fulcrumed as at 109 to one of the bars, as shown bar 104; and the opposite ends of the lever or the portions thereof on opposite sides of the fulcruml, or fulcrum pin 109 are constructed with elongatedslots 110 and 111, and extendingivertically through the slotted ends ofthe bars arefpins 112 which pass throu hthe slots 110 and 111 of the lever 107. T e pins 112 are similar to the fulcrum pin 109, terminating at their upper and lower ends coincidently with the upper and lower sides of the several bars 101 to 106 inclusive. The bar 104, or that throu h which the fulcrum pin 109 extends, may e properly termed the intermediate governin bar, and at one end this bar'is provided with a buffer 113 which is preferably spring-actuated, as shown by Fig. 9, to engage-an adjustable stop screw 114 in line therewith and carried by an angle arm 115 forming part of the first bar 101, the latter bar being' extended beyond the adjacent.

bars and having the arm-115 carried thereby. As shown by Fig. 5, the buffer 113 is carried by the same bar as shown by Fig. 9 and acts as a stop means or a limiting device for the movement of the slide bars 101 to 106 in one direction. The bar 103, as shown by Fig. 5, carries an extension spindle 116 movable through asuitable goose .neck 117', said spindle being screw-threaded and carrying an adjusting nut, 118- between which `and the inner depending extremity of the goose neck a coiled spring 119 surrounds the spindle and serves as a yielding buer and also to impart a partial return movement' to the group of slide bars. In the form of this mechanismv as shown by Fig. 9, the bar 104: on the end opposite that carrying the `buffer 113 is provided with an extension spindle 120 which-loosely moves through an angle plate "1,21 and is` provided with an adjusting nut 122, lthe yspindle having a spring 123 surrounding the same between-the angle plateand the adjacent end of the bar 104;. The irst bar 101is also formed with an outwardly extending bracket or connecting arm 124 for attachment thereto of a connecting rod or lever 125 b'ywhich movement is `imparted to the whole series of bars. The slide bars 101 to 106 carrya plurality of upright partitions or walls 126, 127 128, 129, 130 and 131 which extendytransversely thereover, as clearly shown by Figs. 5, 9, 11

and 12. The partitions or walls 126 to 131 engagedif't'erent portions of the bars and each partition has a depending attaching ange or member 132, as shown by Fig. 13, which fits in a corresponding slot 133 opening upwardly through the upper edge of each bar.

The flanges or attaching members 132 and vthe slots 133 are located in diierent positions relatively to the several partitions and bars,

and considering for' example that Fig. 12

shows bar 102 and Fig. 13 illustrates parti'- tion 127 attached to -said bar, it will be observed that the member or liange 132 stands y inwardly far enough from the nearest end of the partition or wall 127 toleave a clearance at the under edge of said partition or' *f Wall of such'length as to permit the said nearest end of the partition to project-,over the outermost bar 101 at one side and the upper edge vof the adjacent side of the box l will gradually increase in their distance as to location from, for instance, the right end of the partition, as shownby Fig. 13, toward the opposite end throughout the series of partitions'orwalls, and the parts of 'the partitions or Walls on opposite sides yof the flanges or members 132 will-be loosely disposed over the bars, or in .other words, the said partitionsor walls will be individnally attached to the bars and have loose movement with relation to the remaining bars or ythe bars 101to 106 except the: angular.' extension or elbow 115 of .bar 101 andthe arm 124 of they saine bar. These ledges 1323`and 133a lit snugly under the base of the hopper on voppositejside's of the outletopening 99 and move A'with the 'partitions' carrying the; same and therefore shiftin opposite directions nnder the hopper and serve to' alternately guide `or direct thejcigarettes'into thev spaces between the partitions or walls126to 131. In l'the `position of the mechanism-as shown` by Fig. 4, it will be Seen 5' that thej ledge 133* is projected some distance into the outlet opening, 99 of the `hopper and the let opening will resten this led e,"b' ut'whei1l the-partition-or wall carrying t e ledge, te-A cigarettes gravitating toward the said .out-

gether with the l,corresponding bar of vthe Y partition, is shifted toward the left, theV cigarettes will .be pushed oli' this ledge and correspondingly the opposite ledge 132a will move into the outletopening and receive ci garettes thereon, and said ledge 1321. will be cleared of .cigarettes when the bars v'are moved toward the right or intO'DOrmal position. A s a minute structural advantage the ledges 132 and 133% at' their points of intersection with the partitions 126 and 131 are formed with regularly curved bends so as toavoid sharp angular corners andalso facilitate' the movement of the cigarettes `downwardly into the adjacent' spaces or pockets between the partitions or walls, with material advantage lin preserving the cross-sectional contour of -the cigarettes.- Thel opposite extremities 'of the partitions or walls 126 to 131 are fully open for engagement therewith of ejecting means at one side and free liberationby longitudinal movement of theA cigarettes at'' the opposite side, and thus the cigarettes may be readily discharged from between the partitions, and it will be seen that these partitions with the bars carrying the same form as assembling chamber or receiver beneath the hopper. It will also be understood that the number of bars and partitions may be varied toform packages containing more than ten cigarettes or cigars, as-the case may be.

Athe said lever 107 is pivotally attached, re-

maining for the time being without sliding movement, f and byv this movement of the bars all of the partitions or' walls carried by the bars except that engaging the v Xbar 104 are moved in directions corresponding tothe movement of their bars, or the `partitions or walls carried by thel bars 102 vand 103\are moved to the-left and the partitions carried by bars 105. and 106 are moved to the right, thereby increasing to the distance of movement of the bars car-y rying the4 same and permitting the cigarettes .to roll down and .fill :the spaces or pockets betweenh vthel palilrtitions witholt crushing or miss aping t eI cigarettes, su cient distance-being left'by predetermined adjustmentV between the several partitions when the movement thereof takes lace to permit the cigarettes to fall easily into the space or pockets between the partitions without crowding or undue pressure of the cigarettes, and this increase 4of lspace permits the cigarettes to roll relatively to each otherand become properly disposed between the partitions. The movement of the bar 101 to the left continues until Athe stop screw 114 strikes the buffer 11.3, and when this engagement ensues, all .ofthebars, includingvbar 104to which they lever 107 is fulcrumed, are bodily'moved to the left by a continuation ofthe drawingI action ofthe bar 101 throughthe medium ofthe connectingy rod 125; 4 This bodily movement of'all 'of the bars is against the resistance ofthe spring 123, and during such bodily move-. .ment the stem 116, as showh by Fig. 4, is4

drawn-through the inner extremity of the goose-neck 117 against the resistance 'of .the

spring 119, or as shown by Fig. 9 the stem 120 is pushed through the angle bracket .121 against the vresistance of the spring 123 and the nut-122 recedes slightly from the portion of the langle plate normally engaged thereby. 'l`l1isbodily' `movement of4 the bars varies fthe position of the -partitions or walls under the hopper so `that all of the spaces or. pockets between the partitions will become properly filled with cigarettes )from the hopper and a sufficient-'agitation or displacement of the v`cigarettes in the hopperwillensue to maintain the cigarettes inaclose relation or free exit condiv right, which will be imparted by the connecting rod 125, will shift or slide the bar 101l toward the right and restore the remaining bars 102, 103, 105 and 106 -to normal position and correspondingly shift the partitions so as to assume a closer relation to the cigarettes therebetween and positively hold the cigarettes in rows for practical ejection from the receiver or. assembling chamber. The degree of movement of the several bars 101 to 106 may be regulated by adjusting the screw 114: so as to project closer'to or at a greater distance from the combined stop and buffer pin 113, and similarly the screw 122 may be adjusted on the stem 120 to vary the bodily movement of all of the bars vand the partitions. The adjustment ofthe screw 114 vwill regulate the spacing or separation of the partitions 126 to 131. The kbodily movement of all the bars and partitions is, as a matter of coursav transmltted to the ledges 132a and l133, an the latter are given opposite reciprocatin or sliding `movements under the bottom ov the ho per 92 to alternately receivecigarettes tr at may fall thereon and cleared of the cigarettes by the opposite lower terminals` of the wall the outlet 99 of thehopperhaviiig close coperation with thesaidledges. The connecting rod `125'extends forwardly and is connected to the upper member of a crank arm 126a journaled on a rod 1277**1see Fig. 2,

the lower member of said crank arm engag ing a cam 128a which is suitably grooved or shaped to give the proper motion to the bars 101 to 106 and the partitions carriedl there-` by to preliminarily yseparate the'partitions y and then bpdilymoveall 'the ,bars and partitions as hereinbefore explained. The cam 128 is .fixed 'to a shaft ,1`29journaled in hangers 130 'and' 131b depending from the under side ofthe table 5. This shaft 129a has a sprocket whe/el: 132b-thereon over which achain belt 133h trained-and passes upwardly through the table and also runs over a sprocketjwheel 134: on the shaft 11. It will be und rstood thatfth'e chain belt 1331" will be engaged by suitableidlers l.to keep' the` parts thereof` in proper'operating conditionf', f'

As a preferredspecific detail of construction the box oricasing 100 is formed as a part of the table '5 or in a suitable extension ofthe latter, and it will be understood'when the number of" bars and partitionsis inmenace creased the box or casing will be made correspondingly wider or of such transverse extent as to provide for the introduction and operation therein of the additional bars and partitions. It will also be understood that the hopper 92 is slightly greater in width than the standard length of cigarettes, and in placing the cigarettes in the hopper they will be disposed with their ends adjacent to the opposite side walls and by this means they will settle and roll ldown to the outlet 99 in approximately regular condition or in such position as to be disposed between the partitions 126 to 131 for -practical ejection. lncidentally, practice has demonstrated that with the feeding mechanism as just described the ordinary hopper with the inclined sides causes the cigarettes contained therein to have a tendency to arch over a little away from the ledges 132 and 133, and thus prevent the descent of the cigarettes and outlet into the receiver or assem bling chamber below. To obviate this defect it is ,preferred that one side of the hopper be given a. greater inclination than the opposite side, as shown particularly in Fig. 7 so that the movement produced by the feeding mechanism below or the movement and reciprocation of the bars 101 and 106, and the partitions or walls 126 and 130 is el'ective more directly on the comparatively few cigarettes adjacent to the outlet 99 and below the projections 95 and 96 of the opposite hopper walls. Furthermore, these projections serve to support the welght of the cigarettes above the same and prevent crushing or jamming of the cigarettes on the ledges 132a and 133, as heretofore stated.

The cigarettes in the receiver or assembling chamber are pushed out at regular inl tervals through the medium of an ejector 135 comprising a vplurality of spaced ngers 136 corresponding to the number of spaces between the partitions or walls 126 to 131, these fingers 136 being ot such length as to fully push the cigarettes outwardly from between the partitions or walls and of such vertical extent as to engage the two rows of cigarettes of tive each between the partitions. 'lhe fingers 136 project forwardly from a common web 137 pivoted at its outer end as at 138 to a support or slide 139 mounted in a guide 1h10 projecting outwardly from the table 5. By pivoting the outer end of the ejector 135, the latter may be drawn over or raised Jfrom operative position at times when it may be found necessaryto temporarily dispense with the operation ot the ejector in order to rectify some slight error in any of the cigarettes or for any other purpose without stopping the operation of the remaining mechanisrn.

When theejector 135 is thrown over in an outward direction it may continue to reciptable 5, as clearly shown by Fig. 3. @n the outer end of the shaft 147 a gear or pinion 149 is secured and disposed in horizontal position and held in continual mesh with the support or slide 139 carrying the ejector, said support or slide 139 having a rack 150.. A reciprocating movement is imparted'to the slide bar 142 regularly in opposite directions by the cam- 141 and through the rack 145 and pinion- 146 the shaft 14:7 is regularly rotated in opposite directions and correspondingly the'gear" or pinion 14:9 on the upper extremity' of said shaft is reverselyrotated and consequently the slide 139 is shifted inwardly and outwardly to .move the ejector 135 into and through the receiver or assembling chamber for the cigarettes,` and then outwardly to clear the said'receiver or chamber to permit the latter to recharge by the operation of the mechanism hereinbeore speciied.

' lt will be understood that the movement ot the slide .or bar 142 will be intermittent"v or will take place at regular intervals so that the receiver or chamber under the hopper 92 may be practically charged with cigarettes between the periods of ejection. The inner ends of the fingers 136 squarely strike the adjacent ends of the cigarettes between the partitions or walls 126. to 131 and as the cigarettes are loose between the partitions they will be pushed longitudinallyV Vwith an easy motion and all equally without the least deviation and are discharged into' a pressure chamber 151 as clearly shownby 1li-gs. 1 and 5. rl`he pressure chamber 151 is provided in a carrier :trame comprising an inner transverse end wall 152 and a si de wall 153 at right angles to the wall 152, the side wall 153`being movable under a guide 154 supported on the table 5 and snugly engaging said wall 153 to prevent too loose movement or displacement of the carrier as a whole out of a true line otravel in accordance with a predetermined arrangement of the several parts embodied in this particular construction. `lin `tact, the top wall of the guide 154 has'suiiicientfrictional engagement with` the side wall 153 to render the movement of the carrier at all times accurate. Projecting from the outer end of the Wall 153 is a right angular guide or erm 155 forming a bearing as well as a contributing stop projection, and at an intermediate 'point the bearing arm 156 exL tends into the receiving chamber. A

A plunger stem or rod 157 is slidably mounted in the varm 155 and an arm 156, and between the said arms a spring 158 sur# rounds the rod 157 and is adjustable through the medium of a set sleeve 159 also disposed on the lrod 157. -The rod 157 has a plunger 160 fixed to its inner end which operates through the reciprocation of the said rod to first slightly compress and closely dispose `the cigarettes dischargedv into the chamber 151 and then bodily move the cigarettes to a point of delivery from the chamber, as will be presently explained. The

',outer end of the rod 157 has a head 161 secured theret'o and movably attached to the head is a connecting rod 162. As here1nbefore stated, the rod 157 is free to reciprocate or slide in the arms 155 and 156 and when the said plunger rod 157 is drawn outwardly and the plunger- 160 approaches the arm 156, the *head 161 recedes from the outer side of the arm 155, and the rod 157 is givena slight resilient action in view of the spring 158surounding the same between said sleeve 159 and the arm 155,and`consequently on the return or inward strokes of the plunger 160 a preliminary resilient or yielding operationgis given to the said plunger by the spring 158 so as to yieldingly compress the charge of cigarettes in the chamber 151 without unduly forcing the cigarettes. or misshaping ,the same, 'and this preliminary pressure continues until the inner end of the head 161 abuts against the arm 155, when a continued inward movement of the connecting rod 162 then 4shifts the entire carrier including the plunger 160 and rod 157 together' with the charge of cigarettes to a point of discharge which will be hereinafter explained.

The chamber 151 is provided with a bottom wall 163 and, the charge of cigarettes.

is shifted thereover when the carrier moves to a point of delivery or discharge. The carrier isllimited in its outward movement or is restricted as to its outward stroke by an adjusting screw 164 held by a suitable angle plate, as 165, or other analogous means, andv the said screw 164 is adjustable so as to vary the movement of the carrier'in an outward direction in accordance with the dimensions of the cigarettes forced into the chamber 151. The connecting rod 162 is movably attached at its outer end to the upper member of a bell crank lever 165 mounted on the supporting shaft 127al adjacent to the inner side of the hanger 131, as shown by Fig. 2, and the lower member of said bell crank 165a is provided with a suitable roller or/analogous means 166 engafring the cam 15,67 on the shaft 129% lt is desired to be understoodi that the cams 141, 128ll and l167 will all be channeled or grooved to impart to the mechanism with which they directly coperate a regularly `timed operation in accordance with the several progressive steps in feeding the cigarettes, and discharging the latter in regular quantities, and in the operation of the carrier embodying the walls 152 andy 153 together with the'plunger 160 and rod 157 it will be understood that the cam groove or channel in the cam 167 will be of such contour as to permit the inward yielding pressure movement of thel plunger160 against the cigarettes and also permit said plunger to be slightly drawn outwardly after' the slide as an entirety has reached the limit of its outer stroke, and by this means the plunger 160 is` always automatically operated to be ready for successive yielding compression strokes in relation to the successive charges of cigarettes delivered into the chamber 151. The charges of cigarettes aftercompression and close assemblage thereof are regular] moved by the carrier over a discharge table -168 having therein a pocket 169 of such dimensions as to readily receive but hold the cigarettes in4 the charge in close assembled relation, and at the bottomof the table 168 spring-controlled retaining lips or flaps 170 are located to hold the charge oflcigarettes in the'pocket 169 with a comparatively small resistance to the expulsion of the cigarettes from this pocket. The carrier with the moving over the table 168 and ocket 169 at the same time, as'shown by 2, shifts under a discharging plunger 171 at the lower end of a stem 172 which is adjustably mounted in a forwardly projecting horizontally disposed arm 173, said arm 173 being securedto the lower extremity of a vertical reciprocating rod 174` having a closed yoke 175, -see Fig. 2, reciprocatingly mounted over the shaft 11 and carrying a roller 176 atl its upper extremity which. enf gages the groove of a cam 177 secured to the said shaft 11. The horizontal arm 17 3 while being held rigidly in a horizontal plane reciprocates equally with rod 174, and this arm is adjustable on the said rod, and for the purpose of conveniently adjusting the same a vertical socket 178 is provided at the rear end. of said arm to receive the lower end of the rod 174, the socket 178 being held in fixed adjustment by means of a suitable set screw 179, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. By adjusting the arm 173', the vertical movement of the discharging plunger 171 may be regulated to accommodate -the bulk of the charges of cigarettes with which it coperates or to render it effective in operation with cigarettes that may have variations in diameter.

As hereinbefore explained, the retaining aps or lips 17 0 located at the opposite ends gs. 1 and charge-of cigarettes in of the discharge pocket 169 hold the cigarettes up until they are released or discharged by the plunger 171, and said pluf ger moving downwardly engages the top row or layer of the cigarettes and forces the charge bodily through the pocket 169 into the inclosure in the pocket 36 of the mold Wheel 35, which will then be located immediately belowthe table 168. After this dischargeof the cigarettes hasv been ei'ected through the table 168 the plunger 171 immediately rises oris moved upwardly through the medium of the mechanism for operating the same, and the carrier vembodying the plunger recedes lorl moves outwardly and the chamber 151 is cleared for a subsequent charge of cigarettes, when the same operation will be carried out and continued successively and all the charges of the cigarettes delivered into the chamber 151 from the receiver or' assembling chamber under the hopper 92.

As shown by Figs. 6 and 7, the discharge plunger is connected to and moves with the carrier, and connected to and movable with the carrier is" an upright having the,

yoked end 181 supporting a roller frame 182 in which a roller 183 is centrally 'mounted,` and in this instance the discharging plunger 184 is disposed in an enlarged inclpsure 185 which forms a receiving chamber for the successive-charges of cigarettes, and rising fromy the said plunger is a stem 186, said stem 186 projectingupwardly through the center of the yoked extremity 181 of the upright 180 and operatively associated with the roller frame 182. v'ilhe discharge plunger 184 may be held in normally elevated posi- .tion by a spring, as at 186, and the inclosure 185 moves over a table 187 having a pocket 188 therein similar to that shownby Figs. 1 and 2 and provided with spring-actuated retaining flaps or lips 1,89, the charge ot cigarettes being discharged through the table 187 into one of the pockets 36 ot the mold wheel below. When the inclosure 185 with the plunger 18aL therein risesy over and coincides with the pocket 188 of the table 187, the roller 183engages with the forward extremity of a depressing arm 190 adjustably mounted on a vertical reciprocating rod 191 which corresponds to the rod 174, 'shown by Fig. 2, and having a similar operation through the medium oir' the cam 177 heretofore described. When 'a proper 'registration of the inclosure 185 over the pocket 188 is accomplished, the arm 190 immediately descends and 'presses on the roller 183, and stem 186 together with the plunger 18-1 are depressed to expel the charge of cigarettes. After the discharge of the cigarettes has been ed'ected, the arm immediately rises, the stem 186 and plunger 184 resume their normal positions, and the carrier with the plunger and stem as well as the inclosure 186 recede or inove outwardly ready to 'taire another charge ot cigarettes from vthe receiver or assembling chamber under the hopper 92. The discharge plunger and its operating means may be indefinitely variedI or modified. While it will be seen that it is only necessary to have the plunger operate at proper intervals to 'depress and discharge or expel' the successive charges of cigarettes into the mold wheel or inclosures carried by the successive pockets of the latter, and while it is preferred to use a horizontally disposed mold wheel, it will also be understood` that the same mechanism might' be adopted lin connection with a vertical mold wheel or any other analogous device for receilving charges oi'cigarettes at timed interva s.

`After the inclosures have been chargedl with cigarettes, they are adapted to be moved successively by. the old wheel or disk 35 to other instrument lities for completing the inclosures for commercial vendition, as explained in ,my application hereinbefore mentioned.

W'hat' is claimedis:

1; 1n a machine for packaging cigarettes andother articles, the combination of a roi tatable mold wheel carrying inclosures, mechanism for charging the inclosures with cigarettes and embodying a fixed hopper, a receiver under the hopper comprising a plurality of differentially lseparable partitions which are individually and unitedly movable to prepare a predetermined charge of cigarettes, a carrier i'or the charges oi cigarettes, an ejector for discharging the cigarettes from the receiver into the carrier, andy a plunger forpressing the charges of cigarettes from the carrier into the inclosures of the mold wheel.

2. ln a machine for packaging cigarettes and other articles, lthe combination ci a retatable mold wheel having means for receiving and holding inclosures, mechanism l for feeding charges of cigarettes to the inclosures in the mold wheel comprising a xed hopper, a reciprocating assembling chamber adjacent to the bottom oi the hopper embodying a plurality of upright partitions having means for imparting a difierential separation thereof and also for bodily moving said partitions as a group under the hopper while remaining in an upright position, andI mechanism for ejecting the successive charges from the assembling chamber from between the partitions, exerting an assembling pressure on the successive charges from the chamber and pressing these charges into the inclosures ot the mold wheel.

inra machine for packaging cig rettes and other articles, the combination of a mold wheel having a 'step rotation and provided with pockets to successively receive inclosures, cigarette feeding mechanism consistidee ing ofv a'x'ed hopper, a reciprocating assembling. chamber at the bottom of the hopper for predetermined charges of cigarettes and embodying partitions which remain upright and have a differential separating movement imparted thereto and a reciprocating movement asa whole under the bottom of the hopper, and mechanism. for discharging the cigarettes from the assembling chamber, exerting an assembling pressure on the charges of cigarettes and depositing the charges in the inclosures of the mold wheel.

4. In a feeding mechanism of the class specified, a hopper with abottom outlet, au assembling chamber adjacent the hopper outlet having normally separated partitions 'always maintained in upright position and structurally lcontinuous from their upper to their lower ends, and means for shifting the partitions as a whole a greater distance apart 'and restoring them to normall position while they are maintained in upright position.

5. In a feeding mechanism of the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, an assembling chamber adjacent' to said outlet provided with spaced partitions having a rigid structurethroughout their vertical and transverse extent, and ineans for bodily yshifting the partitions away from and toward each other.

6. In a -feeding mechanism of the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, an assembling chamber adjacent to said outlet provided with spaced rigid upright partitions, and means for bodily shifting the partitions to modify the spaces between them while they are maintained in upright positions.

7. Ina feeding mechanism" of the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, and an assembling chamber adjacent to said outlet provided with division devices rigid throughout their full vertical and transverse extent having means for automatically varying the normal spaces between them.

8. In a feeding mechanism vof the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, and an assembling chamber adjacent to said outlet providedv with division devices rigid throughout their vertical and transverse extent having means for automatically imparting a differentiating bodily movement thereto to vary the normal spaces between them.

9. In a feeding mechanism of the class specified, a fixed hopper withv an outlet, and an assembling chamber adjacent to said outlet provided with bodily movable division means, said division means being rigid throughout, their vertical and transverse extent and individually differentiating in their movement.

10. .ln a feeding mechanism of the class speciiedfa-fhpper with an outlet, an assembling chamber adjacent to said outlet,

. sembling able through the and reciprocating devices carrying rigid partitions extending into saidmchamber, the

ferentiating movements.

l1. In a feeding mechanism of the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, an aschamber adjacent to said outlet, and devices having individual differentiating reciprocation and carrying upright partitions extending. into said chamber and rigid throughout their vertical and transverse extent.

12. In a feeding mechanism of the class specified, -a hopper with an outlet, an assembling chamber adjacent to said outlet,

devices having individual differentiating reciprocation and carrying upright rigid partitions extendinginto said chamber, and means for adjusting said devices to vary the reciprocation thereof;` j 13. In a' feeding mechanism of the class specified, 'a hopper with an outlet, an assembling chamber ladjacent to said outlet, upright rigid partitions extending into the chamber, partitions and also vibrating the partitions as a whole to give them a quick-shaking movement. 2 v j 14. Ina feeding mechanism of the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, rigid spaced partitions extending into theA hopper, means for bodily reciprocating the partitions and varying the width of the spaces between them, and means for imparting a, quick shaking movement t0 the partitions. 15. In a feeding mechanism of the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, an assembling chamber adjacent to: said outlet provided with spaced division devices, and means for reciprocating the chamber and its complemental parts as a' unit relatively to the outlet of the hopper and for individually and bodily shifting the division devices away from and toward each other.

16. Ina feeding mechanism of the class specified, a hopper with an outlet, an assembling chamber adjacent to said outlet provided with spaced division devices, and means for reciprocating the chamber and` its complemental parts as a unit relatively to the hopper outlet and for individually and bodily shifting the division devices and lalso imparting thereto a quick shaking movement. 17. In a feeding mechanism of the class specied, a hopper with an outlet, an assemassembling chamber having spaced partitions structurally continuous from their up-` per to their lower ends and provided with means for individually and bodily shifting them to modify the spaces therebetween, and an expelling device having parts movchamber between the partitions.

18. In a feeding mechanism of the class and means for shifting the said tions provided with means for individuellv and bodily shifting them to modify the 6- spaces therebetween, and a reciprocating ex- J pelling device Ahaving parts movable through the chamber between the partitions, ,the expelling device. being hinged for throwing it upwardlyV and outwardly to prevent en- 10 gagement thereof with the chamber without stopping the movement of the expelling device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ,'my hand in the presence of two.- subscribing witnesses.

' 4Ross v. CRAGGS.

Witnesses: v

l Cms. S. Hm, Cms. A. y120mm.` 

